Variable speed drive



June 6, 1939. J. A. JEPSON 2,161,054

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E511 3mm:

JAME5 A.JEP.5'ON

Gamma;

June 6, 1939.

-J. A. JEPSON VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Swucwvfb'b. JAMES A. JEPSON June 6, 1939. J, A, P 2,161,054

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Fe b. 24, 1957 s Shets-Sheet s m o ZhwM vkw, JAMES AJEPSON June 1 J. A JEPSON VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1937 JA MES A. JEPSON VII/ 1011 June 6, 1939.

J. A. JEP SON VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Feb. 24', 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 game/WM. JAMES A. JEPSON bin has been Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES VARIABLE. SPEED DRIVE James A. Jepson,

Decatur, Ga, assignor to Decatur Associates, a partnership composed of James A. Jepson, Alfred Jepson,

and Clyde Z.

'Walker, all of Decatur, Ga. Application February 24, 1937, Serial No. 127,468

19 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatically controlled variable speed drive for spinning frames, cotton twister frames, cotton roving frames and the like, and more especially to a variable speed drive which is capable of gradually increasing the speed of the machine as the thread is built up upon the bobbin at a predetermined rate, and means for decreasing the rate of speed of the :spinning frame at a much faster rate than it was 0 increased after the maximum speed has been attained to cause the machine to be running substantially at the same rate of speed when the bobbin is doffed as itwas when it was started. It is a well known fact that when the yarn is 16 being wound around bobbins on spinning frames and the like, the ring rail does not oscillate the entire length of the bobbin or quill. Instead, the ring rail oscillates or traverses approximately one-fourth the length of the bobbin at the be- 20 ginning, as as the thread is built up upon the bobbin to form the appearance of an inverted cone at the lower end thereof, the ring rail gradually rises relative to the bobbin but at the same time maintains thesame length stroke of oscillation.

Due to the fact that the balloon of yarn, when it first starts from the bobbin, is much greater than it is when the bobbin is doifed, it naturally follows that the air resistance to this yarn will be go much greater; consequently, it is necessary that the rate of speed at the-beginning of the bobbin be much slower than it will be when the ring rail rises towards the top of the bobbin where there is less balloonage and windage of the strand.

Furthermore, at the beginning of the deposit of yarn on the bobbin, the size of the cone is small and the angularity of the yarn between the bobbin and the traveller is great, resulting in an additional friction which is reduced after the bobbuilt up to a larger diameter.

It is therefore, seen that it is very desirable that means be provided for gradually increasing the speed of spinning frames and the like, as the ring rail moves upwardly in its reoiprocatory movement, and as the size of the bobbin builds up since the friction and air resistance to the yarn is considerably decreased at this time.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a variable speed drive for spinning frames and the like comprising means for gradually increasing the speed of the machine as yarn is being wound into the bobbin until the speed has attained the desired maximum speed and means for maintaining this maximum speed for a predetermined time, and further means for decreasing the speed of the spinning frame at a much greater rate of speed than it was increased until the speed has been reduced to starting speed. When the starting speedhas been reached, the bobbins are ready to be doffed and when addi tional quills are placed on the spindles the machine stands adjusted to the proper starting speed without the necessity of any other manual operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a variable speed drive for a machine,such as spinning frames and the like, comprising an expansion pulley mounted on the drive shaft of a machine which is driven by a suitable motor by means of a belt, and having means operated by the oscillation of the ring rail of the spinning frame for bodily moving said motor relative to said expansion pulley and at the same time mov ing the disks on said expansion pulleys relative to each other to compensate for the movement of said motor thereby opening the disks in perfect synchronization with the movement of the motor. This allows the belt to change position in the disks to increase or decrease the R. P. M. of the driven shaft and at the same time keep the belt in perfect alinement and at an even tension. The alinement is maintained since both disks spread exactly the same amount relative to the center line or the belt, and the even tension is maintained since positive means are provided for expanding or contracting the disks according to the distance that the motor is removed from the shaft.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in variable speed drive for spinning frames of the class described, an automatic clutch for increasing and'decreasing the speed of the spinning frame'at a predetermined rate with manual means for disengaging said automatic clutch while the spinning frame is still in motion and having means for re-setting the spinning frame at a different speed. This is very often desirable in many instances such as when false roving makes is impossible to operate the frame at a predetermined high speed. By means of the hand clutch control it is possible to allow the speed to reach any point between high and low speed and then turn the same back to any intermediate point. Also, when atmospheric conditions cause the work to run bad in the mills and slower or higher speed is found to be advantageous during such bad periods. The hand clutch is used to turn the frame back to a slower speed and thereafter the speed gradually increases again. If it were not for the hand clutch, it would be necessary to disturb the setting of the automatic clutch trips governing the main control unit. These trips have practically permanent settings for different types of spinning frames, therefore, it is desirable to disturb these as little as possible. There are other instances in which the hand control lever is used to an advantage, but the above cases are merely cited to illustrate some of the important functions which it performs, as the other functions of the hand control will appear in the detailed description hereinafter following.

In variable speed drives, the rate ofspeed of the driven machine is eifected by having a pair of beveled members pressed towards each other by a compression spring. When increased pressure is applied to the belt it is pressed more deeplyin between the beveled members to decrease the rate of speed of the machine. The spring pressure changes, due to temperature, and also on account of the pressure on the edges of the belt increasing as greater tension is applied to the belt. This apparatus embodies positively driven means for movingjcothbeveled disks towards and away from each other and at the same time moving the motor to cause the tautness of the belt to remain practically constant, at all times. Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my invention which is located at the end of a spinning frame;

Figure 1A is an elevation of a crank which is used for manually positioning the motor for a iven sp d;

Figure 2 is aplan view looking down on Figure 1 showing portions of a spinning frame in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line 32i in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevationof the invention looking at the left-hand side of Figure 1 showing a portion of a spinning frame associated therewith; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail View taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4, and showing the parts in a slightly different position;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken along liIiQ fi-Eil'l Figure 2;

Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 'l? in Figure 6;

V Figure 8 is a vertical, sectional View taken along line 8-8 in Figure 1;

I Figure 9 is a vertical, sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a sectional, detail line Ill-l0 in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional detail view taken along the line ll--l| in Figure 2;

Figure 12 is asectional View taken along line Il -l2 in Figure 11.

Re ferring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l0 denotes an end frame of a suitable textile machine such as a spinning frame, which has longitudinally disposed bottom rails l I, bolster rail, l2, spinning rails l3, and thread guide rails I4. Each bolster rail [2 has secured therein suitable bolsters l5 in which rotate spindles i6, each of said spindles having a bobbin ll removably mounted thereon. A strand of yarn i 8 is drawn downwardly from the drafting rolls, not shown, through an eyelet I Ga, and then to the traveler l9 from whence it is deposited upon the bobbin I1.

As previously stated, it is necessary that the Speed of the bobbinbe relatively slow when the yarn is first started thereon because the windage view taken along of the yarn is at its maximum at this point and also the tension between the traveler and the bobbin is its greatest. Consequently, it is necessary to have a slow starting speed when the yarn is started at point 20, Figure 5. It is then very desirable to gradually increase the speed until the point 2| is reached at which time the machine is at its'maximum speed. This speed is maintained until a point, such as 22, is reached, and at this time it is desirable to quickly reduce the rate of speed to the starting speed by the time point 23 is reached. When the point 23 is reached, the packages of yarn are completed and are ready to be doife'd.

It is also quite evident that it is desirable to maintain the maximum speed as long as possible between the points it and 22 so that the maximum production can be obtained. In order to do this, it is necessary to shorten the interval of time consumed in winding the yarn between the points 22 and-2 3. V -In-;other;words, the objective is to reduce the speed at a much greater rate than it was increased. This can very-wellbe accomplished since the windage of the yarn at point 22 has-been materially decreased and also-the friction between the traveler i9 and'the package of yarn has also been decreased due to the inceased diameter of the bobbin. The ring rail traverses approximately-the lower fourth portion of the bobbin at the beginning and maintains the same length of traverse throughout the winding of the yarn but it gradually moves upwardly towards the top of the finished-bobbin by increments until the final traverse takes place between points 23 and 23a. The means for' causing the rail to move upwardly ing-thisrnanne ri s-a conventional builder motion, and therefore, a description will notbe made.

The ring rail 1 3'has secured thereto a vertically disposed plunger or rod 21 which is slidably mounted in bottom rail H and bolster rail l2. The lower end of this plunger is secured tothe free end of lever 28, said lever being fixedly secured on the end of ring rail cross shaft 29. Also, fixedly secured to this cross shaft 29is a vertically disposed lever 30, the upper end of which has pivotally secured thereto a horizontally disposed link3l. The other end of link 3| is pivoted as at 32 to a bolt 33, said bolt 33 being adjustably mounted in slot 34, (Figural) which is provided in the lower end of oscillating clutch lever 35;. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends on shafts 38 and 39 at their junction points, which shafts are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings disposed on the tops of boxes 40 and 4| respectively. 'It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and 3 that shafts S8 and 3,9 are "not fixedly connected to each otherbut relative movement is permitted between the two since their only connection is a loose male'and female joint, (Figure 3). The upper end of lever 35 (Figures 8, 9 and 10), is penetrated by bolt 82, each end of said bolt having pivotally secured thereon' suitable pawls for engaging suitable ratchet wheels which 'will be presently described.

Thezarm35 is caused to oscillate during the winding of yarn l8 upon the bobbin l'l due to the fact that'the ring rail l3 traverses the bobbin during that time. This vertical up and down movement, of' course, 'is imparted to arm 35 through links 21 and 3! which have been previously described.

A pawl 43 ,is pivotally supported on one'end of1bolt142;and,isadapted, at times, to engage a which position is lower disposed in the hub portion of this pawl. Plunger 45 has a restricted portion 46 around which a coiled compression spring 4'! is mounted. This compression spring normally presses the plunger 45 against the side of the upper portion of the T-shaped lever 35 and into suitable cavities or detents 48 and 48a in lever 35. When the pawl is in an engaged position, as shown in Figure 8, plunger 45 is disposed in detent 48 such as shown also in Figure 10, whereas, if it is desired to move the pawl to a disengaged position, it is rotated in a counter-clockwise manner in Figure 8, to cause the pawl to engage the. detent 580. which is placed at a predetermined distance from detent 48, Figure 8.

The hub of pawl 43 also has integral therewith an upwardly extending projection 49 which pro jection is adapted to be contacted by stop 50 when the ring rail is moved downwardly to its lowermost position. Of course, when this pro-jeo- ;tion 49 contacts projection 59 the pointed portionof the pawl will be caused to engage the ratchet wheel 44. It might be further stated that when the packages of yarn are doffed, the ring rail 13 is pushed downwardly to its lowermost position, than the initial traverse position of this ring rail. This is done so that the loose ends will be tied around the bottom of the spindles l6. After the pawl 43 is placed in engaging position by the stop 55), the spinning 35 :frame is again placed in operation and the yarn is started to be wound around the lowermost portion of the bobbins I1.

As previously stated tion of the lever 35 and the pawl 43. The oscillation of lever 35 will therefore, cause ratchet wheel 44 to be rotated intermittently in a clockwise manner, (Figure 8) which, in turn, will rotate the shaft 38, that is, if the clutch face 44a is engaged with the clutch face 55a of clutch member 55.

Clutch 55 is slidably mounted on shaft 38 by means of keys 56 and this member is also normally pressed toward ratchet wheel 44 by means of a compression spring 51 so that the clutch faces 44a and 55a will tend to engage each other. I The lower end of a forked lever 58 normally engages left hand surface of the rim of clutch member 55 (Figure 1) when the clutch faces 44a and 55a are desired tobe disengaged. This mem- I The other end of rod 50 has a collar adjustably secured thereto which is contacted by the downwardly extending projection 63 when the motor moves to the left in Figure 1 and engages the same.

It is quite evident that when the collar 65 is engaged by projection 53 that the forked lever 58,

so far as its control of the speed of the machine.

the vertical oscillation of ring rail 13 will cause a corresponding oscilla is concerned. However, it would be stated that the collar 66 is not engaged by the projection 63 until the motor has been moved to the left so as to cause a maximum speed of the machine to be attained. After a maximum speed has been reached, the motor will remain in a stationary position which is somewhat to the left of its position shown in Figure 1 for a predetermined time, after which, other means which will be later described will be brought into operation to cause the motor to again move to the right and consequently reduce the speed.

Motor 55 is moved to the left when the yarn is started on bobbins ll by means of a suitable pinion 10 which is secured to the end of shaft 38, said pinion 'i'il meshing with a larger pinion H loosely mounted on shaft 12 but it has a clutch face Ha which normally engages a clutch face 13a of clutch i3. Clutch I3 is keyed to the shaft 12 by means of key 14 but is adapted to have longitudinal sliding movement thereon. A suit- 7 l5 (Figure 1) normally base frame 82 which in turn is supported by a plurality of short pipes or columns such as 83.

Rod 12 has a threaded portion thereon upon which is threadedly mounted block 84 which extends upwardly and is confined between the downwardly projecting members 62 and 63'. Therefore, when the ratchet wheel 44 causes shaft 12 to rotate so that the top portion thereof is moved toward the observer in Figure l, the block 8 will be forced to the left and consequent-- ly the motor 55 and its base 64 will be also moved to the left.

By referring to Figure 4, it is seen more clearly how the slide 65, upon which motor 55 is mounted, operates in the top of the framework. The

to fit in coinciding grooves which are disposed in table top 38, this top is fixedly secured to the top of framework 3!.

The motor 55 has a suitable shaft 39 extendin therefrom upon which is secured a V-pulley 9!). Mounted upon this pulley is a transmission belt 95 which belt extends downwardly and is also mounted upon an expansion V-pulley 92, said expansion pulley comprising disks 93 and 94 which are adapted to be moved toward and away from each otherto cause the belt 9! to' rotate on the desired circumference, and consequently, prov duce the desired speed of rotation of a shaft 96.

It can be readily seen, by referring to Figure 1,

that as the motor 55 progresses to the left, the

transmission belt 55 will be caused to rotate upon.

a smaller diameter between disks 93 and 94 and therefore the shaft 95 will be caused to rotate'at ahigher speed. In other words, the R. P. l\/I.s of aft 95 will gradually be increased as the motor 55 moves to the left causing the belt to rotate upon a smaller circumference between thepreviously described disks.

I The disks 93 and 9d are slidablykeyed to a sleeve Q'l'by any suitable means such as keys 91a, but. these disks are adapted to have longitudinal sliding movement upon this sleeve. is fixedly secured to shaft 95 by any suitable means such as a pin 98. Rotatably secured around the hub of disks 93 and 94 are collarsv Hill The sleeve 7 91 and I! respectively. The proximate faces of these collars are adapted to contact suitable thrust bearings Hi3 and HM for normally forcing or holding the disks 93 and 94' in their proper position. Instead of providing the conventional spring pressed disks which are operated by the tension of the belts for causing the same to expand or to contract and consequently produce the desired change in the speed, I have provided positive means whereby the disks 93 and 94 will be spread or closed. as the motor 65 moves to the left or to the right respectively in Figure 1. By providing this positive means it is evident that the tension upon the belt will remain practically constant as the motor moves towards and away from the expansion V-pulley. At the same time the lateral pressure upon the thrust bearings I03 and Hi l will also be kept practically constant.

In order to provide this positive means I have secured on opposed sides of the hub ill!) suitable rollers H35, which rollers are engaged by the lowermost forked ends of levers I06. These levers are pivoted intermediate their ends as at, it! to opposed sides of interiorally threaded collar Hi8 which is threadably mounted upon shaft N39. The upper ends of the levers me are also forked and are adapted to engage rollers llii which are secured on opposed sides of an interiorally threaded collar Hi. This collar is likewise threadably secured around a suita le shaft H2.

Likewise, hub lfil has rollers lid secured on opposed sides thereof which are engaged by the lower forked ends of levers I 25, said levers I I5 being pivotally secured as at lit-3 to an interior- ,ally threaded collar 2!? which is threadably mounted on shaft 52251. The upper end of these levers H5 are forked and adapted to engage suitable rollers l 58 which are disposed on the upper and lower sides of interiorally threaded collar H3 threadably mounted on shaft H2. The shaft H2 is rotatably mounted in bearings I28 and I25. This shaft has beveled gear I23 secured on rod or shaft l2. When the yarn is started on bobbin l'l' the shaft 12 is caused to rotate with the top portion thereof moving toward the observer in Figure 1 which causes the motor 65 to move to the left. At the same time the beveled gears 523 and I22 will cause the shaft M2 to rotate in a clockwise manner in Figures 1 and 2,

which, in turn, will cause the collars ii! and H9 to move toward each other and thereby cause the disks 9S and 95 to spread. It is therefore, seen that the spreading of the disks is synchronized with the movement of the motor 65 toward and away from the shaft 36 thereby causing the trans- "mission belt ill to have an even tension thereon at all times.

It is further se n that by providing means for expanding or moving laterally both of the disks 93 and 94 simultaneously, the belt El can be kept, in alinement at all times, whereas, if only one disk moved laterally then the belt 9| would become warped or twisted unless means were provided for the corresponding lateral movement of the fixed pulley Eli which is disposed thereabove.

The endso-f shaft R89 are rotatably secured in bearings 526 and 21. The end of rod lot which rotates in bearing l2? has a collar i29 fixedly secured thereon which has a bore therein and said bore is slidably mounted on a plunger E35 (Figure 12). This plunger has a restricted portion l3| around which mounted a coiled compression spring 32, This spring normally presses the plunger l 39 into suitable spaced detents l3.3 which are disposed in the face of bearing I27 which is adjacent to collar J29. The intermediate portion of the rod Hi9 has a squared portion [39a which may be engaged by a suitable wrench to turn this rod. Since the ends of the rod have right and left hand threads disposed thereon it is evident that when rod M39 is turned the collars ms and II! will be moved, either toward each other or away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation imparted to the rod. The function of theplunger I30 and detents I33 is to hold the rod E09 in the position to which it has been turned. The rod lei is turned when a finer adjustment is desired relative to the spacing of the disks 93 and 9 3 as for example, when it is desired to tighten the belt. When this adjustment has once been made it is rarely ever necessary to change the same unless the belt becomes worn or too loose.

In order to prevent rotative movement of the collars Hi and H9 and also collars Hi8 and ii! suitable L-shaped members 535 and 533 are providcd (figures 2 and 6) each of which have one leg thereof projecting substantially parallel to the upper members i It and 8% for a substantial distance and then these members are turned downwardly at an angle of' 90 degrees so that the lower end thereof will stop short of the lower members which are disposed directly below the said upper members.

'As previously stated, the arm 35, in Figure 8, oscillates back and forth about its pivot point from the time the package i first started on bobbin is until it is completed; however, pawl 53 is only allowed to engage the ratchet teeth in ratchet 44 to increase the speed of the spinning frame until the point ii on the package of yarn in Figure 5, is reached. At this time the maximum speed has been obtained and it desired tooperate at thisspeed until the point 22' is reached. When the point ii is reached the pawl 43 is thrown into a disengaged position since the projection 9 will be oscillated at this time far enough to the right in Figure 8 to cause it to be engaged by the lower end of pivoted dog 938. When the projection i9 engages this dog the pawl .3 will be thrown to dotted line position and although member 35 will continue to oscillate, the ratchet ulwill not be moved and consequently, the motor G5 will not be forced any further to the left in Figure 1. This means that the maximum speed will continueuntil a predetermined point such as 22, Figure 5, is reached in the winding of the package of yarn. It will be noted that the stop 53 is adjustably mounted in a slot Hill of arcuate member l 25. Likewise, dog l38 and its associated bracket M2 is adjustably secured in the slot I46 and when these members 50 and 152 have been once set to ac commodate a special type of spinning frame it is rarely ever necessary to disturb these settings. In other words, the slot Mil is provided so that these stops maybe set to accommodate various types of. frames upon which this apparatus is used and this adjustment is usually made when the machinery is installed in the mill. The bracket I42 has a tension spring. its secured thereto, the other end of said spring being adapted to be connected to the upper end of dog E38. Thus, itis seen that'this dog may be rotated alimited amount in a clockwise manner in figure'8 by the projection' lil when this projection oscillates to the right of the lower end of this dog. But it should be noted that before the speed has been increased sufficiently to cause the pro-.

jection 49 to oscillate past the lower end of dog I38 the pawl 48 is still in bold line position and operating the ratchet 44. When this projection 49 contacts the lower end of this dog pawl 43 will be rotated in a counterclockwise manner to cause the same to assume the dotted line position. In other words, when this rotation of pawl 43 takes place the plunger 45 is moved out .of detent 48 and into detent 46a where it is held in aninoperative position.

By referring to Figures 9 and 10, it will be noted that the other end of pin 42 has pivotally secured thereon another pawl I46. This pawl is similar in all respects to the pawl 43 previously described and is held in engaged and disengaged position by means of detents 48 and 48a and plunger 45 which has been previously described in connection with pawl 43. This pawl has a projection I4I extending upwardly therefrom which is adapted to contact the lower end of pivoted dog I49 when the point 22 is reached in Figure 5 in the winding of the bobbin. When this projection iscontacted the pawl I46 is thrown to dotted line or engaged position with ratchet I50 after which the ratchet will be caused to intermittently rotate in a counterclockwise manner in Figure 9.

Dog I49 is similar in all respects to dog I36 and has a suitable tension spring I5I secured thereto for normally holding the dog in the position shown in Figure 9. Likewise, the bracket I52, in which the pivoted dog I49 is secured, is adjustably mounted in a suitable slot I53 which slot is cut in semi-circular ring member I54. It should be noted that the dog I49 is located farther to the right relative to the shafts 39 and 39 than the dog I38, sothat when the maximum speed has been attained the dog I38 will throw the pawl 43 to disengaged position and during the operation under maximum speed both pawls 43 and I46 will be disengaged. After the ring rail I3 has moved high enough to cause the oscillation of the upper end of lever 35 to cause the projection I4! to contact dog E49, then the pawl I46 will be rotated so that it will engage the ratchet I59 and thereby operate means for gradually decreasing .the speed of the spinning frame which will be hereinafter described.

' The ratchet wheel I59 has a clutch face I561; integral therewith which is adapted to mesh with a second clutch face I55a of clutch I55.

This clutch is secured to shaft 39 by means of keys I56 but is allowed to have longitudinal sliding movement on said shaft. A compression spring I51 normally forces the clutch I55 to the right in Figures 1 and 3, to cause clutch faces I55a and I56a to become engaged.

Aforked lever I58 has the lower end thereof astride the shaft 39 and normally engages the rim of clutch I55, when the clutch faces IBM and I55a are in a disengaged position. This lever I58 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at I59 and has secured in the upper end thereof a horizontally disposed sliding rod I69 by means of nuts I6I, the left hand end of said rod I66 being adapted to be engaged by the downstanding projection 62 of the motor slide face 64 when the motor is positioned so as to produce the slowest speed of shaft 96, that is, when the motor is positioned in its extreme right-hand position in Figure 1. However, when the arm 35 is oscillating far enough to the right in Figure 9, to cause the projection M1 to be engaged by dog I49, the motor 65 will be positioned in its extreme left-hand position so that the doWnStanding projection 63 will be contacting the collar 66 in Figure 1.

The primary function of pawl I46 .and ratchet I5!) is to move the motor 65 to the right so that it will occupy the position shown in Figure l as quickly as possible after the yarn has been wound to point 22 on the package of yarn, in Figure 5.

After the pawl I46 has been moved to dotted line position, so that it will engage ratchet I60, each oscillation of ring rail I3 and arm 35 will rotate the ratchet I50 and the shaft 39 in a counter-clockwise manner and this motion will be transmitted to pinion I65 which is fixedly secured on the end of shaft 39 (Figure 9). Meshing with this pinion is another pinion I66 which is rotatably mounted on shaft I2. Pinion I66 has integral therewith a clutch face I660. This clutch face meshes with another clutch face I68w of clutch hub I68, which is secured to shaft I2 by means of suitable key ways' I69. This hub is adapted to have longitudinal sliding movement relative to the shaft I2 and is normally forced into engagement with the clutch hub I68 by means of compression spring IID.

In other words, when the clutch face I55w and I59a are in engaged position the rotation of ratchet I59 and shaft 39 will cause the shaft I2 to rotate in such .a manner so as to move the motor 65 to the right. Furthermore, since the pinion I65 is considerably larger than pinion I66, it is seen that this movement of the motor 65 to the right will be faster than its movement was to the left which was produced by pinions I and II.

There are many cases in which it is necessary to change the speed of the spinning frame before the operation is completed; therefore means have been provided whereby the control mechanism which is operated by pawls 43 and I46 along with ratchets 44 and I56 respectively, and their associated parts may be. disengaged from the other portions of the machine while the machine is still running .and to enable one to employ means whereby the motor may be positioned so that the desired speed will be effected.

In order to provide this disengaging means, a forked lever II has been provided with its lower end astride the hub of clutch member I68 and having the forked ends normally engaging the flange of said hub. Forked lever H5 is pivoted as at II6 to downwardly extending bracket III (Figure l). The upper end of the forked lever H5 is pivoted as at IIB to a horizontally disposed link I19 which extends laterally of the machine in Figure 1 and has its otherend pivoted as at I89 to the upper end of forked lever ISI. Forked lever I8I is pivoted intermediate its ends as at.

I62 to the bracket Ill. The lower forked end of the lever I8I rests astride the hub of member I3 and is normally adapted to contact the flange of said member. In order to move the link II9 to the left in Figure l, and thereby cause the clutch faces I66a and I681 to become disengaged as well as to cause the clutches Ila and I30. to become disengaged a lever I85 is pivoted as at I96. This lever is operated manually to accomplish this result. When the hand lever I85 is rotated in a clockwise manner, in Figure 1, the above-described clutches will be disengaged and the parts in the lower portion of the machine associated with pawls 43 and I46 will be disengaged from the shaft I2, after which it is only necessary for the operator to take the hand crank I88 as shown in Figure 1, and place the squared cavity I89 over the squared end 120. of shaft 12 and turn the motor 65 to the desired position so that the machine will run at the desired speed.

'It is desirable to use this hand clutch in cases such as where doffing of the bobbin is effected before it is filled, and before the automatic control has returned the spinning frame to the starting speed. Also, when the atmospheric conditions causes the work to' run bad in the mill and a slower or higher speed is found to headvantageous during such bad period, or it may be necessary to use the clutch when faulty roving makes it impossible to operate the spinning frame at a predetermined speed and .as a consequence, the ends'begin to break down in increasing numbers.

When the yarn numbers are changed, and different minimum and maximum speeds are required, it is not necessary to disturb control which is associated with pawls it and Mt. Instead, the position of collar 65 on rod 69. may be changed, or the position of the rod of rod use may be changed. These changes will vary the time at which clutch faces Ma and 55a or clutch faces 158a and E5501. will be thrown to disengaged position. If it were not for the hand clutch it would be necessary to disturb the settings, that is, the position of the stops fail, i353, I49, or 19a as shown in Figures 8 and 9. These stops determine the time at which the pawls 43 and M6 are held in engaged position with their respective ratchet wheels;

It will be observed that the speed at which the spindles It and bobbins l! rotate is in direct proportion to the speed of the shaft $6, This is true, due to the fact that the drum lei is fixedly secured on the shaft 96 and upon this drum are mounted suitable belts H92 which, in turn, are mounted on spindle whorls 59$ for driving the spindles l1.

It is therefore, seen that I have provided positive means for expanding the pulley disks to the desired position to correspond with the remoteness of the position which the motor occupies relative to said pulleys, thereby causing the grip upon the ends Sla and 51b of the links of belt 9| to remain constant regardless of what circumference within the disks 93 and 94 on which the belt may be running.

I have also provided means for gradually increasing the speed of rotation at the beginning of the bobbin in increments and means for maintaining a maximum speed for a predetermined time and then means for reducing the speed back to the initial speed at a greater rate than the said speed was increased. And finally means have been provided for changing the speed of spinning frames while in operation before the operation is completed by the use of the above-described hand clutch mechanism.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the. invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. A variable drive for spinning frames and the like comprising a motor having a shaft, a V- pulley fixedly mounted on said shaft, 2. main drive shaft for the spinning frame, an expansion V- pulley having its proximate faces beveled and said faces being movable towards and away from each other on said drive shaft, means driven by the spinning frame for moving the motor relative to the expansion V-pulley and other means also driven by the machine for moving the two faces of said expansion pulley away from each other as the motor moves away from the expansion pulley and for moving the faces of the expansion pulley towards each other as the motor moves towards the expansion pulley, and a belt mounted on said pulleys.

2. In a machine having a main drive shaft and a motor having a shaft for driving the machine, said motor shaft having a V-pulley thereon, an expansion V-pulley being split transversely of its longitudinal axis and having its two portions slidably keyed on the drive shaft, a belt mounted on the two pulleys, means driven by the machine for moving the motor towards and away from the expansion pulley and other means for moving the two portions of said expansion pulley away from and towards each other in proportion to the movement of the motor to thereby maintain the. desired tautness in the belt.

3. In a machine havinga main drive shaft and a motor having a shaft for driving the machine, said motor shaft having a V-pulley thereon, an expansion V-pulley being split transversely of its longitudinal axis and having its two portions slidably keyed on the drive shaft, a belt mounted on the two pulleys, means driven by the machine for moving the motor towards and away from the expansion pulley and other means for moving the two portions of said expansion pulley away from and towards eachother in proportion to the movement of the motor to thereby maintain the desired tautness in the belt and manually operable means for adjusting the position of the motor with relation to the expansion pulley.

4. In a fiber preparation machine having a main drive shaft and a motor provided with a shaft and also having a vertically reciprocating ring rail, a V-pulley fixed on said motor shaft, an expansion V-pulley having its two parts slidably keyed on said main drive shaft to rotate with said shaft, a belt mounted on said V-pulleys, means driven by the ring rail for moving said motor towards and away from main drive shaft, other means driven by the ring rail for moving the two portions of the expansion V-pulley relative to each other in proportion to the travel of the motor to thereby maintain a uniform tautness in said belt.

5. In a fiber preparation machine having a main drive shaft and a motor'provided with a shaft and also having a vertically reciprocating ring rail, a V-pulley fixed on said motor shaft, an expansion V-pulley having its two parts slidably keyed on said main drive shaft to rotate with said shaft, a belt mounted on said V-pulleys, means driven by the ring rail for moving said'motor towards and away from main drive shaft, other means driven by the ring rail for moving the two portions of the expansion V-pulley relative to each other in proportion to the travel of the motor to thereby maintain a uniform tautness in said belt, automatic means for rendering the means for moving the motor with relation to the drive shaft inoperative when the motor has reached a predetermined point and rendering operative the means for moving the motor in the other direc tion.

6. Variable drive mechanism comprising a driven shaft and a driving shaft, a V-pulley mounted on the driving shaft, an expansion V- pulley mounted for sliding movement on the driven shaft and being keyed on the driven shaft to drive the same, a belt mounted on the two pulleys, means for moving the motor relative to the driven shaft, means for moving the parts of the expansion V-pulley away from each other as the motor moves in one direction, other means for moving the motor in a reverse direction from the said first motor moving means, means for rendering one of said motor moving means inoperable and rendering the other operable at predetermined points in the travel of the motor, one of said motor moving means being geared to move the motor at a more rapid rate than the other motor moving means.

'7. In a machine for spinning fibers, apparatus for rotating the bobbins in said machine at a low and gradually increasing initial rate and a high rate during the formation of theyarn on the bobbin and a rapidly decreasing finishing rate, comprising a driven shaft and a drive shaft, a V-pull-ey mounted on the drive shaft, an expansion V-pulley having its two parts keyed on said driven shaft for movement towards and away from each other, a belt mounted on said V-pulleys, means driven by the machine for moving the parts of said expansion pulley away from each other and moving said motor away from said expansion pulley at a slow and gradually increasing rate, automatic means for rendering all of said moving means inoperative for a predetermined time, other means driven by the machine for moving said portions of said expansion pulley towards each other and moving said motor towards said expansion pulley at a rapidly decreasing rate and automatic means for rendering said other 'means inoperative when the motor has returned to another predetermined point.

8. In a fiber preparation machine having a ring rail and a main shaft, a motor for driving the main shaft, said motor having a motor shaft provided with a V-pulley thereon, said main shaft having an expansion V-pulley thereon having its beveled faces movable towards and away from each other, a belt mounted on said pulleys, the parts of said expansion pulley being keyed on said main shaft to drive the main shaft but being slidable longitudinally on the main shaft, a motor mounted for sliding movement on a horizontally disposed table, a threaded shaft having threaded connection with the motor,- a train of gears driven by the ring rail for driving said threaded shaft in one direction for moving the motor along said table, a second train of gears for driving said threaded shaft in a reverse direction for moving the motor in a reverse direction along said table, means automatically operable upon the motor reaching a predetermined position on said table for rendering the first train of gears inoperative and rendering the other train of gears operable, the second train of gears being of a ratio to move the motor appreciably faster along the table than the first train of gears moved it to said predetermined point.

9. Apparatus for driving a spinning frame having a ring rail for depositing yarn onto bobbins and comprising a motor provided with a motor shaft and a V-pulley mounted on the motor shaft, a driven shaft for the machine having an expansion V-pulley thereon comprising two parts mounted on said driven shaft for movement towards and away from each other, a belt mounted on said pulleys, means for mounting said motor for horizontal movement so that the weight of the motor will offer the same resistance to moving it in either direction, a threaded shaft engaging the motor, a lever oscillated by the ring rail, means for moving the portions of the expansion V-pulley towards and away from each other on the driven shaft, means operable by the oscillating lever upon the beginning of winding of yarns onto bobbins for moving said parts of said expansion pulley away from each other and also moving the motor away from the driven shaft, means for rendering the oscillating lever inoperative to drive said shaft and said parts of said expansion pulley when a predetermined amount of yarn has been wound onto the bobbins, other means for driving the threaded shaft in a reverse direction, means automatically operable when another predetermined amount of yarn has been wound onto the bobbins for rendering operable said other means for driving the threaded shaft and moving said parts of said expansion pulley to move the motor nearer the driven shaft and to move the parts of the expansion pulley towards each other at a greater rate of travel than they were moved away from each other.

10. In a spinning frame having a ring rail for depositing yarn onto bobbins and said ring rail being vertically movable and vertically reciprocable, a motor having a shaft, a drive shaft for the spinning frame, a V-pulley mounted on the motor shaft, an expansion V-pulley mounted on said drive shaft and being keyed for sliding movement longitudinally of the drive shaft, said expansion pulley being in two parts whereby the beveled faces of the expansion pulley can be moved relative to each other, a belt mounted on said pulleys, means driven by the ring rail for moving the motor and at the same time positively moving the two parts of the expansion pulley relative to each other so that the belt will. remain taut as the speed of the spinning frame is changed.

11. A spinning frame having bobbins and a ring rail which is vertically reciprocable and vertically movable to deposit yarn onto the bobbins,

a motor provided with a motor shaft having a V-pulley thereon, a drive shaft for the machine having an expansion V-pulley thereon, means controlled by the ring rail of the spinningframe for moving the parts of the expansion pulley relative to each other and other means for moving the position of the motor relative to the' expansion pulley to thereby vary the rate of rotation of the bobbins and at the same time maintain a constant desired tautness in the belt.

12. Apparatus for driving a fiber preparation machine having a ring rail provided with means for vertically reciprocating the ring rail and gradually raising the ring rail, comprising a drive shaft having a V-pulley thereon and a driven shaft having an expansion V-pullcy mounted for sliding movement thereon, apparatus for moving the two portions of said expansion pulley rela- 'tive to each other on said driven shaft, a belt mounted on said pulleys, a threaded shaft for moving the drive shaft with relation to the driven shaft, means operable by the reciprocation of the ring rail for driving the threaded shaft to move the motor, means automatically operable upon the drive shaft reaching a predetermined point for disconnecting the means driven by the ring rail from the threaded shaft, means for driving the threaded shaft in a reverse direction, means operable upon the ring rail reaching a predetermined elevation for connecting the last named means to the threaded shaft for returning the drive shaft towards the driven shaft and moving the portions of the expansion pulley towards each other to gradually decrease the rate of rotation of the bobbins in the machine.

13. Apparatus for driving a spinning frame and the like so that the yarn will be wound onto the bobbins at a low and gradually increasing rate of speed at the beginning of the winding and the body of the bobbin will be wound at a high rate of speed and during the completion of the winding of the bobbin, the yarn will be wound at a decreasing rate which is more rapid than the increasing rate at the beginning of winding, com prising a drive shaft having a V-pulley thereon, a driven shaft having a split V-pulley slidably keyed on the driven shaft so that the parts of the split V-pulley may be moved towards and away from each other, a belt mounted on said pulleys, means driven by the machine for moving the parts of said split pulley away from each other and moving the motor with relation to the split pulley to keep the belt taut, other means for stopping the travel of the motor when the portions of the split pulley have been moved a predetermined distance from each other, and mechanism automatically operable after a predetermined amount of yarn has been wound onto the bobbin for moving the portions of the split pulley towards each other and moving the motor nearer the split pulley at a more rapid rate than the portions of the pulley were moved away from each other at the start of the bobbin.

14. Driving means for spinning frames having bobbins and a vertically reciprocable and vertically movable ring rail, a motor having a motor shaft provided with a V-pulley, a table, means for mounting the motor for horizontal movement on said table, a drive shaft for the spinning frame, an expansion V-pulley mounted in said drive shaft for sliding movement of its two parts relative to each other, a belt on said pulleys, means driven by the movements of the ring rail for moving the motor horizontally on said table and also for moving the parts of said expansion pulley relative to each other proportional to the movement imparted to the motor so that the belt will retain a predetermined tautness regardless of the relative positions of the motor with relation to the expansion pulley.

15. A variable drive for spinning frames and the like comprising a motor having a shaft, a main drive shaft for the spinning frame, a V- pulley fixedly mounted on one of the shafts and an expansion V-pulley keyed on the other shaft for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, means driven by the spinning frame for moving the motor relative to the drive shaft of the spinning frame, other means also driven by the machine for moving the two faces of the expansion pulley away from each other as the motor moves away from the drive shaft of the spinning frame and for moving the two faces of the expansion pulley towards each other as the motor moves towards the drive shaft of the spinning frame, and a belt mounted on said pulleys.

16. In a machine having a main drive shaft and a motor having a shaft for driving the said drive shaft, the motor shaft and the drive shaft each having a V-pulley thereon, one of said V- pulleys being split transversely of its longitudinal axis and having its two portions slidably keyed on one of the shafts, a belt mounted on the two pulleys, means driven by the machine for moving the motor towards and away from. said drive shaft and'other means for moving the two portions of the split V-pulley away from and towards each other in proportion to the movement of the motor to thereby maintain the desired tautness in the belt.

17. In a fiber preparation machine having a main drive shaft and a motor provided with a shaft and also having a vertically reciprocating ring rail, a V-pulley mounted on one of the shafts to rotate therewith, an expansion V-pulley having its two parts slidably keyed on the other of said two shafts to rotate therewith, a belt mounted on said V-pulleys, means driven by the ring rail for moving said motor towards and away from said drive shaft, and other means driven by the ring rail for moving the two portions of the expansion V-pulley relative to each other in proportion to the travel of the motor to thereby maintain a uniform tautness in the belt.

18. In a fiber preparation machine having a main drive shaft and a motor provided with a shaft and also having a vertically reciprocating ring rail, a V-pulley mounted on one of the shafts to rotate therewith, an expansion V-pulley mounted on the other shaft and having at least one of its two parts keyed for sliding movement longitudinally of its shaft, a belt mounted on said V-pulleys, means driven by the ring rail for moving the motor towards and away from the main drive shaft, and other means driven by the ring rail for moving at least one of the two portions of the expansion V-pulley relative to the other portion in proportion to the travel of the motor to thereby maintain a uniform tautness in the belt.

19. In a fiber preparation machine having a main drive shaft and a reciprocating ring rail and a motor provided with a shaft, a V-pulley mounted on each of the shafts and a belt mounted on said pulleys, one of the pulleys being split and at least one portion thereof being keyed for sliding movement along its shaft with relation to the other portion of the pulley, means for holding the split pulley in position for movement of the parts thereof relative to each other, means for moving the motor relative to the drive shaft, driving means driven by reciprocation of the ring rail for moving the means for moving the motor in one direction, means governed by the movement of the motor for rendering the driving means inoperable, other means for driving the means for moving the motor in the other direction, means for rendering the second driving means inoperative after a predetermined number of revolutions of the motor have occurred after the first driving means have been rendered inoperative, the second driving means having a driving ratio to drive the means for moving the motor at a much greater rate of speed than the first driving means.

JAMES A. JEPSON. 

